Texas Candidate Says Former Life as Prostitute is Behind Him

February 17, 2006

Desperate not to miss out on election-year scandals, the Texas Democratic Party is offering a former prostitute for election to the state house of representatives.

Tom Malin, a salesman and actor who is running in the March 7 primary, has stated publicly that he worked as a prostitute in the past but has now changed his life and accepted responsibility and the Lord’s forgiveness for his past lifestyle. "I’ve made mistakes," he conceded, but said he would stay in the race because he felt others could benefit from his experience (in having made mistakes and been forgiven).

At least some Democrats knew about Malin’s past, but others did not. The Dallas Tejano Democrats endorsed Malin on Thursday, only to learn the additional facts today. "Obviously we will have to reconsider our decision based on the new information," said the group’s chairman.

Malin will face retired salesman and non-prostitute Jack Borden in the March primary. The winner will lose to incumbent Dan Branch, who represents a district in central Dallas.

Malin told the Houston Chronicle that "people care about where you’re going, not where you’ve been." Maybe so, but they might care about where others have been.